Sarkozy says 20% of Iraqi debts to be settled through projects

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday said that 20 percent of Iraqi debts to France will be settled through joint projects. “At the moment, Iraq needs economic cooperation more than security cooperation,” Sarkozy said during a joint press conference with Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad today. “Our visit aims to discuss cooperation in the fields of security, energy and economy… We will help Iraq return to the international community, especially after its successful elections and its exclusion from Chapter VII of the UN Charter…,” the French president added. “We have agreed with Maliki on the establishment of a big French embassy in Iraq and the opening of two consulates in Basra and Ninewa,” Sarkozy noted. Earlier today, Sarkozy arrived in Baghdad on a state visit and was received by his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani and a number of Iraqi officials. Sarkozy’s visit to Baghdad is the first since he came into office in May 2007. On November 17, 2007, Talabani paid a visit to France, where he was received by Sarkozy at the Elysee, the French presidential palace. France had strong relations with Iraq before the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime. It was a main trade partner for Iraq, which supplied the former regime with weapons. It was one of the opponents of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. SS (S) 1